StorytimeWednesday

                                     Wishing everyone a very merry and joyful Thanksgiving Day. May there be plenty of food on your table and joy in your hearts and voices this day.. Hugs to you all.

  When you've invested time and effort into writing a book, finding the right publisher is crucial. Whether you go with a small press or self-publishing, it's essential to evaluate potential publishers carefully. Start by jotting down your priorities and questions regarding your work. Identify which publisher aligns best with your needs. Key Considerations: Contracts: Scrutinize the contract thoroughly; having an attorney review it can be invaluable. Pay attention to royalties, advances, rights retained, and how many copies y ou receive for personal use or promotional purposes. Formatting : Understand submission formats and error-checking options before publication. Know how to submit cover art and author photos as well as details about ISBNs. Print-on-Demand (POD) : Inquire if POD is available even if you're currently focused on eBooks—having print options can be beneficial later. Editing. Are the books polished or simply printed without review? Are there extra costs for ...

  Looking to snag yourself a literary agent and land that book deal? Well, buckle up because it's not going to be a walk in the park. Most publishers won't even sniff at your manuscript unless you have an agent by your side. To find that perfect match, you'll need to roll up your sleeves and do some serious digging. Here's the lowdown on how to charm your way into an agent's good graces: • Dive into those agent directories • Hone in on your book's genre and audience • Seek out agents who dig books like yours • Do your homework and narrow down your list • Draft those personalized query letters • Brace yourself for a rollercoaster of requests and rejections • Choose the agent who feels like the missing piece of your puzzle So, get ready to hustle and find that literary soulmate! 1. Check out literary agent directories Agents may be located in big cities like New York and London, but you can't just stroll through the literary district knoc...

So you have finished your book, so you think! Nope, you haven't really finished, you need to give it a day or two, then go back and reread it and do some editing. First take a look at the number of words in your book? Yes, write that number down you'll need to include it in your cover letter to a publisher. Then begin your editing phase, you see there are three phases of editing. Your editing is for storytelling purposes, second will be your correcting anything you forgot during the first editing phase, and then the final editing stage where you send it off to another person to read it with fresh eyes. This last person can be a friend or someone you contract to read the book and make corrections in spelling, grammar, or content. after that last phase, you go back and reread it for a final time and tweak it accordingly, and then you're finally done with your book.  Elizabeth Kilbride is a Writer and Editor with forty years of experience in writing with 12 of those years in t...

In today's fast-paced world, distractions are everywhere when we sit down to work. It's crucial now more than ever to carve out a space free from interruptions so we can concentrate on our priorities. Even though I’m a jack of all trades when it comes to writing, artistic endeavors, business consulting, and life coaching, I also read other fields to learn about real estate, finance, banking, politics and so much more. I’ve found many successful people such as real estate mogul, Gary Keller gives great advice when it comes to being successful in business. He once said, “Success is not a marathon but a sprint, fueled by discipline until good habits take over.” He’s absolutely correct because I find when things start spiraling out of control, it's time for me to pause and evaluate my actions and determine what's effective and what's not. In this article, I'll be sharing the daily habits that I find helpful for me to establish a distraction-free environment and ...

  Creating your ideal writing space Forget the notion of a flawless writing space, what matters is the space that allows you to open your creative mind and affords you a place to write without interruptions.   Instead of fantasizing about the perfect setup, why not bring it to life? Transform your current space into a motivational haven where you can unleash your creativity. It's all about making your writing space where you can feel you can create your next work of art without the daily interruptions by family or friends. Encouraging a Positive Writing Environment Setting aside a designated writing area can be helpful. By creating a space specifically for writing, you can train your brain to associate that area with productivity. Just like how you might avoid certain foods after getting sick from them, your brain can link your writing space with feelings of creativity and accomplishing goals. When you enter your writing space, try to cultivate a positive mindset. Remind ...